the cutest ideas for babies & toddlers

When my children were younger, they always enjoyed Eric Carle’s colorful and adventurous books, especially The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Very Busy Spider. 

We must have read those books a thousand times, and we always enjoyed the little adventure it took us on while turning those little pages.

And now Eric Carle’s brilliant illustrations are brought to life with a line of adorable and fun rugs that are perfect for any little boy or girls bedroom and would be a great inspiration piece for a playroom. In a collaboration with Home Dynamix, the Eric Carle Rug Collection features the timeless Eric Carle characters that’s we’ve all grown to love, with the bright graphic maps and alphabet images that are as cute as they are educational.

I’m expecting a couple of little visitors to my house very soon…

So, I've got this cute rug all set up

next to out basket of toys...

These would also be fun in a 

preschool classroom or Sunday school room.

Check out the whole selection here:

Elementary Kids by Eric Carle

And if a little one you love is having a birthday, 

I just found these adorable 

Very Hungry Caterpillar party favors too!

So sweet!

ciao! fabiana

Thank you to the Eric Carle Collection for sending me this product to review. 

The opinions expressed in this post are truly my own.

spring tablescape inspo

I have to let you in on a little secret.

You may have already noticed,

 that I’ve been slightly obsessed lately…

with vintage glasses in the prettiest shapes and colors.

Aren't the colors just amazing?

I found these blue dessert glasses

last year at one of my favorite thrift stores

in Huntington Beach, 

and I think I got the pink ones on ebay. 

I just love how they capture 

the light in my dining nook, 

which is surrounded by windows.

You can find pretty colored glasses

just about anywhere…

like

Home Goods, World Market, Amazon, Anthropologie,

garage sales and of course, flea markets.

My little assortment has grown quite a bit in the last year,

and I now call my collection my little glass menagerie.

I love how this grouping of glass looks with

 my gorgeous Valentine flowers,

in my favorite white and gold vase.

This colorful bouquet includes

white & pink stock and pink & lavender hyacinths, and...

they smell soooo good!

It makes me look forward to all the spring flowers

coming up in my garden.

Wouldn’t this look be perfect for Easter and Mother’s day?

I think I’ll have to repeat the look!

ciao! fabiana

a vintage inspired mardi gras table

This year Lent starts on Valentine’s day,

so for those of us who follow this observance,

we might have a double celebration on Mardi Gras….

and that may mean indulging in  

Valentine’s day chocolates a day early!!

In any event,

my inspiration this year was for an

old New Orleans- inspired Mardi Gras tablescape.

When I think of New Orleans,

fabulous architecture and antiques come to mind.

I wanted a little bit of that history on my table,

so I chose a more sophisticated approach to my table décor.

Of course, we must have purple, gold and green,

the obvious colors of Mardi Gras,

but I wanted to use them in a more toned down manner.  

For starters, we need pretty masks and party beads,

so I kept these accessories limited to gold tones.

I brought out some of my favorite

purple and white transferware

and

beautiful amethyst glass stemware.

A hint of green is brought in with a eucalyptus branch runner

down the center of the table which softens the look of the bold brass candlesticks.

I love the Spanish moss tucked around the roses and candles. 

It adds to the whole spooky vibe that

is sooo New Orleans.

White roses were the obvious choice

to bring in some of that elegant old-world beauty of 

New Orleans.

Simple gold flatware keeps the table a little modern and has great juxtaposition 

with the textured linen tablecloth that reminds me of 

old tattered 

anitque chairs.

I love this new white and gold vase…

it’s so versatile for any type of flower and tablescape.

Along the bank of cabinets, behind the table,

the rest of my brass candlesticks are

adorned with more gold beads. 

And when the lights go down…

The magic starts to happen!

Flickering candlelight

is the best ingredient 

for any dinner party!

ciao! fabiana

And it all came together like this:

Purple Transferware Plates

Large White Dinner Plates

white napkins, vintage

White & Gold Vase

White Roses, Trader Joe’s

Amethyst Wine Glasses 

Gold Flatware

Brass Candlesticks

Linen Tablecloth

Bistro Chairs from Serena & Lily

a few lovely valentine accessories

Just a little gathering of gals…

also known as a galantines day party.

I know, a cute and clever way to celebrate

Valentine’s day with your girlfriends.

And why not?!

We girls have to stick together,

and who better to appreciate all the cute

hearts, flowers and sweet treats

than our besties?

The treat table is all set up with

these fun LOVE candy buffet containers…

just fill with your favorite red and pink candies.

And these mini cupcakes fit perfectly in the letter "V".

And best of all,

there’s no cooking involved.

It’s take-out all the way!

We'll order in some yummy salads,

and we'll be all set.

Just a simple little set-up with lots of pink & red accessories.

What’s your favorite Valentine’s candy?

I think my vote is for M & M’s,

plain or peanut.  

And this darling heart pillow adds

just the right touch to the living room.

I can’t wait for my friends to see it.

ciao! fabiana

And it all came together like this:

LOVE Candy Containers

Red & White Salad Plates

Pink Dinera Dinner Plates: IKEA

Pink & Red Napkins: World Market

White Hobnail Votives

Pink Intagande Water Glass: IKEA

White Flatware: vintage

Candy Hearts: Oriental Trading

Tulips: Trader Joe's

French Marble Pastry Slab: Crate & Barrel

Heart Pillow

Mattituck Armchair: Serena & Lily